Define "Associative Disorder" as it relates to Psychiatry?

Answer 1

Hi dont have anything on associative disorder but if this is what you are looking for .
What Is Disassociative Identity Disorder?

Disassociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a severe dissociative disorder that involves a disturbance in both the memory and identity of an individual. The individual uses defense mechanisms involving splitting, idealization, devaluation, denial and/or taking on the personality of another in order to cope with trauma experienced in childhood.

9 times more women than men receive therapy for DID

97% of the individuals with Disassociative Identity Disorder have been physically and/or sexually abused

an individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder develops an average of 8 – 13 personalities

There are three factors which determine if a person has Disassociative Identity Disorder:

Two or more personalities exist within the individual – each is dominant at certain times.

The dominant personality determines the individual’s behaviour.

Each individual personality is complex and integrated with its own unique behaviour patterns and social relationships.

What Causes Disassociative Identity Disorder?

Multiple personalities are formed through dissociation. Dissociation occurs when an individual splits with their primary personality (also known as the "host" personality) and develops a secondary personality in their subconscious. The dissociative splitting of the self into two or more personalities usually occurs in childhood due to extreme physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse. In most cases the existence of Disassociative Identity Disorder represents an attempt by the child to deal with overwhelmingly negative events in their life. The ongoing abuse experienced by the child somehow increases their capacity to detach themselves, compartmentalizing life’s trauma into autonomous units rather than a blended whole. When a particularly abusive experience becomes unbearable the highly hypnotizable child simply exercises their capacity for self-hypnosis, to go to sleep, as it were, and allow another person to emerge who can handle the situation better. In many ways the altered personality of abused children resemble the imaginary friends that "normal" children describe—externalized versions of cartoon figures, superheroes or animals; however, what begins as a protective fantasy is kept within until the individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder becomes that character.

What Are The Symptoms?

Most people with Disassociative Identity Disorder start to show signs in their 20’s and 30’s.

It is not uncommon for an individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder to experience many of the following characteristic symptoms:

Auditory or visual hallucinations

Sense that one’s body is being transformed or changed

Feeling like one is in a daze—going into a trance

Feelings of confusion and/or disorientation

Feeling one’s thoughts are out of control

Vocalizing words one did not think or utter

Difficulty understanding others

Depression

Multiple suicide attempts

Severe anxiety attacks and/or numerous phobias

An inability to maintain stable relationships

Physically damaging acts such as cutting oneself

Due to the various debilitating symptoms, the "host" personality gets to a point where they feel they need to get some kind of help.

Approaches to Recovery

Despite the complexity and severity of Disassociative Identity Disorder, identifying and diagnosing it is the most difficult obstacle to recovery. It is common for people seeking treatment for their confusion and amnesia to be treated for secondary symptoms like depression and anxiety before a proper diagnosis is made. However, once the individual with Disassociative Identity Disorder is teamed with a specialist who employs special therapeutic techniques, about 80% of the people with Disassociative Identity Disorder recover.

The goal of the therapy usually consists of placing the individual into a self-induced hypnotic trance and reliving, in the character of each of the personalities, the significant traumatic events in his or her life. The therapist guides this process and eventually helps the individual integrate all their memories into a gradually developing central consciousness. The individual does not lose the other personalities, rather they become part of the whole person. Once the individual begins to remember and deal with their history, they no longer need the alternate personality. The process of therapy for adults is long and difficult, often taking 3 - 5 years.

Source: Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division

Answer 2

Associative Personality Disorder

Answer 3

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Define "Associative Disorder" as it relates to Psychiatry?

Answer 4

Well, I feel qualified to answer this question only because I am a Doctor of Psychiatry. I think the type of person who would refer to themselves as a quote 'smarty pants', is a lot of things, and the complexity of their personality is, in a word: complex. :) This type of a person would be defined as many things, to include: spontaneous, dynamic, thoughtful, kind, compassionate, sensitive, giving, provocative, enigmantic, a loving and caring mother, a loyal friend, an animal advocate, strong, independent, hard-working, fun loving, outgoing, happy, sad, sarcastic, serious, dependable, aloof, chatty, silly, well read, educated, a shopping addict, an environmentalist, an artist, a writer, a loner, in love, sleep-deprived, vibrant, misunderstood, best friend, confidant, secret keeper, shoulder to lean on, unforgiving, picky, neat freak, clutter maker, an Aquarius, awesome ...... and soo many more things than I could ever care to mention. :) xoxoxoxo